Hairpin



May 18 192s. 1,585,363

C. R. BENDIG HAIRPIN Filed Mar-ch 11, 1925 Patented May 18, 1926.

were sr'rss CHARLES ROBERT ."BENDIG, 0F PHILADELIHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

HAIRPIN.

Application filed March 11, 1925. Serial No. 14,616.

My invention relates to a new and useful hair pin and the like, whichWill give a positive interengagement and ,Security in the hair at alltimes, and particularly in loose hair; and is therefor particularlydevised and adapted for bobbed hair.

My invention further relates to a novel and useful hair pin, which inaddition to giving a positive interengagement of loose hair, and apositive security of the pin in the hair, is also easily and readilyinserted into and removed from the hair when desired.

With the above ends in view my invention consists of a hair pin havingtwo limbs formed of a single piece of metal wire, a pair ofcorresponding and co-operating helical convolutions formed in the twolimbs, in a right hand direction, and a second pair of corresponding andco-operating helical convolutions formed in the two limbs, in a lefthand direction.

My invention further consists of alternate pairs of such correspondinghelical convolutions in the limbs of the hair pin, in oppositedirections, having the same axis and each extending less than a completerevolution.

For the purpose of illustrating my invention, I have shown in theaccompanying drawings forms thereof which are at present preferred byme, since the same have been found in practice to give satisfactory andreliable results, although it is to be understood that the variousinstrumentalities of which my invention consists can be various- 1yarranged and organized and thatv my invention is not limited to theprecise arrangement and organization of these instrumentalities shownand described.

Referring to the drawings in which like reference characters designatelike parts;

Fig. 1 represents a plan view of a hair pin embodying my invention,shown in actual size.

Fig. 2 represents a side elevation of the same.

Fig. 3 represents a plan View of a slightly modified form of myinvention.

Fig. 4: represents a side elevation of the same. 7 v

Fig. 5 represents a plan view of another modification of my invention.

Fig. 6 represents aside elevation of the same.

In the figures, 1 designates a hair pin embodying my invention beingbent in a U- shape at one end thereof asat 2, and having the two limbs 3and 1 with the free ends 5' and 6. Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the twolimbs 3 and 4 are first formed into an elliptical shape as 7, and arethen wound about each other from approximately the po1nts'8 to points 9,in a helical formation, 10 and 11 in a left hand direction; therespective helical convolutions 10 and 11 having a common axis, andextending less than one revolutionj From approximately the points 9 tothe points 12, the convolutions of the limbs 3 and 4: are graduallyreversed into right hand helices 13 and 14 also of less than arevolution and having an axis common with each other and with thehelices 10 and 11. If desired the limbs 3 and 4 may be directedlongitudinally for a short distance between the left and right helicalformation. The limbs 3 and 4 are then formed into right hand helicesfrom 12 to about beyond which point they may be straight, convergent, ordivergent.

In the modification shown in Figs. 1 and 2, all the helices have acommon axis and are less than a full revolution, but being of arelatively short or rapid pitch, are of less revolution than themodification having a, longer or slower pitch as shown in Figures 3 and4.

In Figs. 3 and 4, I have shown a second modification of my inventionembodying the same principles, namely successive pair'sv of alternateleft and right hand helical con volutions, all of less than a fullrevolution, and about a single and common axis. It will be seen uponreference to Figs. 3 and 4 that in this modification each of theconvolutions is longer and hence of slower pitch. In order to compensatefor the slower pitch and the corresponding decrease in gripping orlooking action produced by the two limbs the corresponding convolutionsare provided with a greater number of degrees of revolution and hence agreater amount of overlap at the points of reversal 9 and 12. In orderto facilitate the insertion and removal of the hair pin into and fromthe hair, I may provide a handle 16, as shown in Fig. 3 and 4, byturning up the U-shaped end of the hair pin.

' By the above inverse relation of the number of degrees of revolutionto the rapidity of the. pitch, there is produced a compensation effectin the security of the pin in loose hair, together with easy operationin dense hair. Thus the slower the pitch (namely the longer theconvolutions) of the helices, the greater the number of degrees of therevolution of the helices. Pins of heavy or stiff wire (sometimespreferred to light ones) are given a slow pitch but also a greaternumber of degrees of revolution, since the slow and hence longer pitchincreases the leverage between the two limbs; for greater ease inopening the members of a heavy gauge wire in denser hair; while thegreater number of degrees of revolutions preserves the security of thepin in loose hair.

The present construction in hair pins differs fundamentally from anyother similar constructions known heretofore. My device alone embodiessuccessive left and right hand helices formed on a common axis. It alsoembodies as part of my principle that none of the helices make a.complete revolution. Certain signal and heretofore unattainableadvantages of the highest practical value result from this construction.Thus hair varies in density not only in different regions of thecoillure but also varies greatly in density and hence in the pressureexertedon the length of a single pin. Occasionally the hair is ofsubstantially uniform density and pressure on the entire length of thepin. From these strongly differing conditions, it has always heretoforeresulted that pins which held with even moderate security in loose hair,such as bobbed hair, were impractical in being operated in dense hair byreason either of injury to the hair or scalp or by disarranging thecoitl'ure in application.

My device, however, will be shown to automatically compensate for all ofthese varied conditions for a result of ever positive security ofoperation and noninjury to hair and scalp.

Thus if the hair lies with greater pressure on, say the right hand helix(right hand coming out of the hair) than on the left hand helix, the pinunder the influence of any dislodging force must turn for time in thedirection of the helix having the greater pressure, or to the right. Byso turn ing to the right, the left hand helix is also forced to turn tothe right, or directl contrary to its natural direction. Therefor theleft hand helices will drag the hair instead of turning it off inscrew-like fashion, and hence loose hair will wrap around the left handhelices and develop pressure there exteriorly. This exterior pressuretends to keep the limbs with their helices close to the aXis. Hence thehelical or screw-construction and action of the pin is preserved or evenincreased and the friction of the hair interiorly as well as exteriorlyis either preserved or even increased. Atlength a point is reached (ascan be clearly shown in p 'ac tice) when the helix having originallyless pressure progressively and accumulatively increase its pressure (byreason of continuing to being forced to turn contrary to its naturaldirection) until finally said pressure becomes equal to the pressure onthe right hand helix which (initially) had a greater pressure. At thisstage it will be seen (by theory as well as by practice) that the pinwill no longer turn either to right or to left and hence both right andleft hand helices will dra and wrap the hair about them and hencedeveloping on the entire length of all helices the dragging holdcharacteristic of a screw that is solicited to advance but is notpermitted to turn. At this point the hold of the pin is at a maximum forit can neither turn nor advance. Under the influence of the severestaccidental dislodging force the security of the pin is absolute andpermanent even in loose hair. So well adapted is my device for apractical hair pin, that if the pin be jarred in loose hair as severelyas horsebac riding would entail, the pin will not be dislodged.

'leferring to Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive I have shown a plan and sideelevation view of each of three modifications of my novel hair pin, insubstantially full size, and proportioned actually produced in workingmodels of my invention. Thus in the two modifications shown in Figs. 1and 2 on one hand and Figs. 3 and l: on the other, I have shown the hairpins having alternate right and left hand helical convolutions in thetwo limbs thereof, wound about a single axis, the amount of twisthowever being different in each of the modifications, so as to make thetwo modifications suitable for hair in dilferent parts of the headdress, though interchangeable in thinner hair. The form shown in Figs. 1and 2 being used near the surface (as invisibles); while the form shownin Figs. 3 and at are of heavy or stiff wire and are used to pry intothe foundation hair. In the modification shown in Figs. 3 and amoreover, I have shown the end 16 turned up so as to facilitate theinsertion, removal and the general handling of the pin.

In the modification of my invention shown in Figs. 5 and 6, I have showna pin having one limb thereof straight and coincident with the axis ofthe helical convolutions in the other limb. Thus the limb 3 in thismodification is straight and has wound about it in alternate left andright hand helical convolutions, the other limb 4, thus being the sameas the other variations in principle but owing to helical resistancebeing on one limb only, provides great ease of operation in voluminousand tight braids often worn by older women, who greatly prefer pins ofvery easy operation.

It is to be understood that these various modifications of my inventionmay be further modified to suit any particular requirement as to thedensity and other characteristics of the hair, and may be made ofmetallic as well as non-metallic materials such as celluloid, pyralinand the like.

It will now be apparent that I have devised a novel and usefulconstruction of a hair pin which embodies the features of advantageenumerated, as desirable in the statement of the invention and the abovedescription, and While I have, in the present instance, shown anddescribed preferred embodiments thereof which will give in practicesatisfactory and reliable results, it is to be understood that the sameare susceptible of modification in various particulars without departingfrom the spirit or scope of the invention or sacrificing any of itsadvantages.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Let ters Patent, is

l. A hair pin having two similar limbs, and successive and correspondingpairs of left and right hand helices formed in each of said limbs, on acommon axis, each of said helical convolutions being less than onerevolution.

2. A hair pin having two limbs, and alternate right and left handhelical convolutions formed in a limb thereof on a common axis, each ofsaid convolutions being less than one revolution.

3. A hair pin having two limbs, and successive right and left handhelical convolutions formed in one limb thereof about the other limb, onan axis co-ineident with said other limb, each of said helicalconvolutions being less than one revolution.

4. A hairpin including leg portions having helix turns, the helix turnsof one leg overlapping the helix turns of the other leg in alternatesuccession.

5. A hairpin including legs each formed with a longitudinal series ofkinks overlapping the kinks of the other leg in alternate oppositepairs.

CHARLES ROBERT BENDIG.

